Unified Smart Device Control Interface with Dynamic Scene Creation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling smart devices in residential settings are inefficient and prone to errors, requiring users to navigate multiple mobile applications or universal remotes with irrelevant buttons, leading to cumbersome and time-consuming operations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a control device with a touch screen to determine and control multiple smart devices, displaying user interfaces based on device proximity and usage patterns, allowing for seamless control through a single interface, with features like recording sequences of user inputs, error notifications, and automatic interface switching based on device usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users control multiple smart devices through separate mobile applications or universal remotes with multiple buttons, then each device can be controlled independently, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control of multiple smart devices into a single unified interface. The control device displays a consolidated user interface that can simultaneously control multiple different types of smart devices (lights, TV, audio equipment, etc.) without requiring users to switch between separate applications or remotes, directly resolving the contradiction by combining multiple control functions into one operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is designed with universal functionality to control diverse smart devices through a single interface. The system can identify and control multiple device types (lighting, entertainment, audio) from different manufacturers and protocols, allowing one device to perform multiple control functions that previously required separate specialized controllers.
2Reliability
If users manually configure each device individually, then precise control over each device is achieved, but the configuration process is complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic device identification and configuration without requiring manual user input for each device parameter. The control device automatically detects connected smart devices, determines their types and capabilities, and configures appropriate control parameters, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining control accuracy through automated detection algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device pre-configures control parameters based on automatic device detection before user interaction. When a smart device is detected, the system pre-establishes appropriate control settings, communication protocols, and interface configurations, so that when users begin controlling devices, the complex setup is already complete, reducing both complexity and potential errors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control device displays all available devices and options, then complete device control capability is provided, but the interface becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface dynamically adapts its content based on the current context and detected devices. The interface automatically reconfigures to display only relevant controls for currently active or nearby devices, while maintaining the capability to control all compatible device types. This dynamic reconfiguration preserves versatility without cluttering the interface with irrelevant options.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface provides customized control options based on local context - displaying different sets of controls depending on which devices are detected, their proximity, and current usage patterns. Rather than showing all possible devices uniformly, the interface prioritizes locally relevant devices and functions, making the interface cleaner and more usable while maintaining comprehensive device compatibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a system and method for creating a configuration for a plurality of devices. The method includes monitoring user interaction with a control device to control each of the plurality of devices, recording, while monitoring the user interaction with the control device, at least one configuration setting based on at least one user input provided to the control device, in response to further user input, storing the at least one configuration setting in at least one memory of the control device, associating a plurality of configuration settings with a scene object, the plurality of configuration settings comprising the at least one configuration setting, and in response to activation of the scene object via the control device, transmitting a plurality of control signals, the plurality of control signals based on the plurality of configuration settings and configured to control the plurality of devices.